as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loafing
to spend time doing nothing
accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dawdling
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Mar. 2023
Adjective
The third and final wave of a dawdling Pacific storm will hit San Diego County Thursday afternoon, wrapping up four days of soaking rains, heavy snow, tree-snapping winds and lightning that arced through the darkest hours of the night, the National Weather Service says.
—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.
—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling
Adjective
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Mondays have $5 martinis, mules and margaritas, Fridays and Saturdays are for boogying upstairs and the patio at Metro is an any-day spot for a leisurely drink or three.
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That was when the lensman captured the social set at their leisurely and often strikingly dressed best.
Verb
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The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
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The company is a major investor in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and a report in The New York Times suggested OpenAI is considering delaying an initial public offering of its stock to next year from the second half of this year.
Verb
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Martin removed his right fielder for loafing on a ball hit to the outfield.
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Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.
Adjective
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What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
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Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
Verb
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But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
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Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season.
Verb
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At the same time, the sounds of idling diesel work truck engines have replaced that of dozens of fire trucks that had been stationed there for days.
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The second album this year from metalcore pioneers Converge is named for a mysterious, pulsing, low-frequency ambient drone, likened by those who hear it to a diesel engine, an idling airplane, or a kind of inescapable torture.
Verb
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Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
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One small habit that has helped me tremendously is dragging important emails directly into my calendar.
Verb
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Unlike during recovery months when high-intensity skiing and snowboarding take precedence, the remainder of the year is much more focused on lounging, pampering and connecting with other guests.
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An old recording studio, still adorned with a grand piano, now exists more as a lounging space.
Cite this Entry
“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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